CORE Project/Program Managers and Research Coordinators

Meet the CORE Project/Program Managers and Research Coordinators.

Project/Program Managers:

Emily Gallagher, RN
Project/Program Manager

Emily R. Gallagher is a research RN at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. She received her BSN in Nursing, and prior to this, a BA in Psychology, both from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Emily has worked with Dr. Jennifer Temel on a number of intervention studies in the areas of palliative and supportive care for cancer patients and their families. Her particular interests include patient-clinician communication, patient decision making, electronic medical record utilization, research study design and database management.

Marie Iannone, MS, CCRP
Program Manager

Marie Iannone is the Program Manager for the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) at the Massachusetts General Hospital. In this role she supports CORE leadership with operational management of the program, staff management, project management, and assists with new protocol, grant, and manuscript submissions. She is a Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) and earned a Master of Science in Biomedical Science from UMDNJ and a BS in Biology from Boston College.

Porsha Lark, MS, MPH
Project/Program Manager

Porsha L. Lark is the Project Manager of the cluster-randomized comparative effectiveness trial that focuses on comparing specialty palliative care versus primary palliative care for improving quality of life and end-of-life care among patients with acute myeloid leukemia (SCOPE-Leukemia). She is collaborating with Drs. El-Jawahri and Temel on this project. Prior to her role within CORE, she served as an IRB professional, specializing in the conductance of ceded research. She received her certification as an IRB professional in June 2021. She gained a passion for biomedical ethics and the inclusion of vulnerable populations in biomedical and behavioral research. She holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Research Technologies from Boston University and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology and a certificate in Child, Youth, and Family Health from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Upeka Samarakoon, MS, PhD, MPH
Senior Project Manager

Upeka Samarakoon is a Senior Project Manager within the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) Program. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the Eck Institute for Global Health at the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Public Health from the Boston University School of Public Health. Her research experiences range from molecular diagnostics, genomics, and population health in areas of infectious disease, chronic disease and aging, and drug allergy. Upeka’s experience in project and program management includes both local and international experience in program design and implementation, grant administration, and regulatory oversight. Under the leadership of Dr. Areej El-Jawahri, she manages research projects in palliative and supportive care interventions in heme malignancies, and digital health interventions for patients with heme malignancies and their caregivers.

Chardria Trotter, MBA, MPH, CPH
Project/Program Manager

Chardria Trotter is a Project Manager who joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program in 2017. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in biology and gerontology from the University of Southern California, Master of Business Administration from Texas Woman’s University, and a Master of Public Health with an emphasis on health management and policy from University of North Texas Health Science Center. Chardria has nearly 10 years of experience in project management, partnership cultivation, regulatory compliance, quality assurance and data integrity. Her cancer research experience ranges from health disparity, rare disease, quality of life, and patient reported outcome studies. Under the leadership of Dr. Jennifer Temel, she manages a large multi-site study that focuses on the comparative effectiveness of early integrated telehealth versus in-person palliative care for patients with advanced lung cancer.

Research Coordinators that work with CORE:

Seetha Aribindi

Seetha Aribindi joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2021. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Neuroscience and a distinction as a Public Policy Research Scholar in May 2021. Seetha works with Dr. Jennifer Temel, Dr. Joseph Greer, and Dr. Kathryn Post to investigate an intervention designed to reduce physical and psychological stress for patients with advanced lung cancer. Seetha was drawn to working with CORE because of the group’s focus on developing new ways to support patients through health challenges. After her time with CORE, Seetha plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Cayley Bliss

Cayley Bliss is a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) and the Mongan Institute for Health Policy. She is very excited and grateful to be a part of the CORE team! She graduated from Boston College in May 2021 with a B.A. in Psychology (Clinical Concentration) and a minor in Applied Psychology and Human Development. At CORE, Cayley works with Dr. Elyse Park on multiple studies that offer health insurance patient navigation to both childhood and adult cancer survivors. She also works on a multi-site study that integrates tobacco treatment into lung cancer screening. In the future, Cayley plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Joanna Choe

Joanna Choe joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a clinical research coordinator in June 2022 after graduating from Boston College with a B.S. in environmental geoscience and a global public health minor. Joanna works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri primarily on the SPRINT study, which is a randomized control trial that examines the impact of early intervention palliative care to patients with acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. She also works on the VIDEO-Home study that looks at the effectiveness of a video-based advanced care planning intervention among patients with a limited prognosis. Joanna intends to apply the knowledge and clinical skills learned at her time at CORE to a career in medicine and public health advocacy.

Bridget Coffey

Bridget Coffey joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2023 after graduating from Boston College with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities. Bridget works with Dr. P Connor Johnson on ALORA, a longitudinal quality-of-life research study for older patients diagnosed with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and with Dr. Richard Newcomb on iHOPE, a longitudinal quality-of-life research study for patients with indolent hematologic malignancies. Both longitudinal quality-of life studies investigate patient-reported health outcomes to better understand patient experiences throughout treatment. Bridget also works with Dr. Anna Barata and Dr. Areej El-Jawahri on PROMOTE, a study seeking to develop and validate a patient-reported outcome measure to examine the side effects of CAR-T cell therapy. Bridget is excited to be part of the CORE team and contribute to its mission of understanding and improving patient experience across all aspects of care. After her time at CORE, Bridget plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Laura Dunderdale

Laura Dunderdale joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June of 2023. She earned a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Laura works with Dr. Jamie Jacobs on the INITIATE study which focuses on understanding and addressing the barriers to beginning Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in breast cancer survivors, particularly minority women. Additionally, she is working with Dr. Jacobs on the Coping with Caregiving study. This study compares different types of therapies to assess the efficacy in relieving symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression of caregivers for individuals with cancer. In the future, Laura plans to pursue higher education in psychology to address barriers and improve health outcomes for all.

Emelia Farnam

Emmie Farnam joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) Program as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2023. After graduating from Northwestern University with a B.A in Chemistry (Biochemistry Concentration) and a minor in Psychology, she is thrilled to continue her passion for research with the CORE team. Emmie is currently working with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri on the FORTE study, which tests the effectiveness of a novel intervention in reducing the amount of stress faced by cancer patients and their primary caregivers. Emmie hopes to use her time at CORE to broaden her research expertise and gain more clinical experience for her future career in medicine.

Madison Freese

Madison Freese joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator following her graduation with a B.S in Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities from Boston College in 2023. Madison currently works with Dr. Joseph Greer and Dr. Jennifer Temel on the THRIVE study. This study aims to improve quality of life, coping and symptoms of patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer through the use of a supportive care mobile application. She is grateful to be working alongside the collaborative CORE team and in time plans to pursue a career in medicine that will allow her to continue striving to improve the patient experience.

Max Hernand

Max G. Hernand considers himself lucky to have joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the fall of 2022. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Max graduated from the University of Michigan in April of 2022 with a BA in Psychology. He currently works with Dr. Daniel Lage on a home care intervention for recently discharged patients with advanced cancer, a clinical psychology-based intervention for minority men with prostate cancer, and a pilot study of a home supportive care intervention for patients recently discharged after a cystectomy. In time, Max intends to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and to continue studying the psychosocial experience of chronic and terminal illnesses.

Katie Holmbeck

Katie Holmbeck joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in July 2022. She graduated from Bucknell University with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a double minor in Economics and Geography. She currently works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri on NAVIGATE, a multi-site randomized control trial which evaluates the efficacy of a mobile app to help patients cope with the diagnosis and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. She is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the team and hopes to pursue a career in medicine after her time with CORE.

Mia Holtze

Mia Holtze joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) in June 2023. She grew up in London, England and graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in Psychology and a concentration in Public Health. Mia works with Dr. Jennifer Temel, and Dr. Joseph Greer on REACH PC, a multi-site clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of telehealth versus in-person palliative care for patients with advanced lung cancer. Mia is excited to be part of such an interdisciplinary team that focuses on how psychosocial factors impact a person’s physical health. After her time at CORE, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine.

Kelly Hsu

Kelly Hsu is a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE). She joined in June 2021 after graduating from Wellesley College with a B.A. in Neuroscience. Kelly works with Dr. Laura Petrillo on the UPLIFT study, research focusing on improving patient-physician communication regarding cancer and immunotherapy. She also works on the POISE study, testing a novel survivorship and palliative care intervention for patients with lung cancer on targeted therapy. After her time with CORE, she plans to attend medical school and continue pursuing her interests in education and health outcomes research.

Brianna Jewett

Brianna Jewett joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in July of 2023 after graduating from Harvard College with a B.A. in History of Science and a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. Brianna currently works with Dr. Joseph Greer and Dr. Jennifer Temel on the THRIVE study, which is a supportive care mobile application that aims to improve coping skills, symptom management, and quality of life for patients with advanced Non-small cell lung cancer. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity to conduct research with such a collaborative and multidisciplinary team. After her time with CORE, Brianna plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Evie Jin

Evie Jin joined the Clinical Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) Program as a Clinical Research Coordinator in February 2023. She graduated from New York University in December 2022 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Evie works with Dr. Daniel Lage on CONTINUUM, a care transition intervention for patients with advanced cancer, and PROWESS, a clinical psychology-based intervention to motivate exercise in men with prostate cancer. After her time with CORE, Evie plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in psychiatry.

Kyle Karpinski

Kyle Karpinski joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2022. He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida and graduated from Boston College with a B.S. in Biology. Kyle works with Dr. P Connor Johnson on a longitudinal study assessing the needs of patients and caregivers receiving CAR T-cell therapy and on a randomized control trial aimed at exploring and testing the feasibility and efficacy of an educational video tool for patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy. He intends to pursue a career in medicine after his time at CORE.

Lucinda Li

Lucinda Li is a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) and the Gastrointestinal Division. She joined in June 2022 after graduating from Wellesley College with a B.A. in Neuroscience and a minor in Economics. Lucinda works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri and Dr. Nneka Ufere on a longitudinal, prospective study to assess cirrhotic patients' quality of life and palliative, supportive, and end-of-life care needs. After her time with CORE, Lucinda intends to attend medical school and further pursue her career in medicine.

Anisa Nabily

Anisa Nabily joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in January 2022. She graduated from Harvard University with a Master of Education in Human Development and Psychology and has prior experience working in the education-nonprofit sector and in conducting behavioral research. At CORE, Anisa works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri on a cluster randomized trial that compares the effectiveness of specialty palliative care versus primary palliative care in improving end-of-life care and quality of life among patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (SCOPE-Leukemia). After her time with CORE, she plans to pursue a career as a healthcare professional and continue engaging in work that improves patients’ behavioral health outcomes.

Riley Psenka

Riley Psenka joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2022 after graduating from Boston College with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities. Within CORE, Riley works with Dr. Lara Traeger on a qualitative pilot study that collects the experiences of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and their caregivers to better understand their journey and unmet needs during total neoadjuvant therapy. She also works on a multi-site randomized controlled trial that assesses the influence of a mind-body intervention program on aging adults’ stress-management skills and resilience. She is excited to work with such a caring, interdisciplinary team that strives towards improving patient-centered care. After her time at CORE, she plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Autumn Rasmussen

Autumn West Rasmussen joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) in January 2021. She graduated in the Spring of 2020 from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Psychology and a Concentration in the Cognitive Sciences. Prior to joining CORE, Autumn held an internship at the MGH OCD and Related Disorders Program. At CORE, Autumn primarily works with Drs. Elyse Park and Brett Goshe on a multi-site study, which offers virtual smoking cessation counseling, and promotes health-related behaviors, among cancer patients. After her time with CORE, Autumn hopes to pursue her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Anna Ruprecht

Anna Ruprecht joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) in June 2022 after graduating from American University with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Justice, Law, and Criminology. Anna works with Dr. Jennifer Temel, Dr. Joseph Greer, and Dr. Kathryn Post on a multi-site study investigating palliative care intervention delivery models for patients with advanced lung cancer. Anna is passionate about psychosocial oncology and the psychological impacts of severe disease diagnosis. She is delighted to be joining such an incredible and dedicated interdisciplinary team. After her time in CORE, Anna hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Roshni Sarathy

Roshni Sarathy is a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE). She joined in July 2023 after graduating from UC Berkeley with a double BA in Neurobiology and Psychology. Roshni works with Dr. Laura Petrillo on the POISE study testing a novel palliative care and survivorship intervention for patients with lung cancer on targeted therapy. After her time with CORE, she plans to pursue a career in clinical psychology and continue engaging in health outcomes research.

David Schneider

David Schneider joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a clinical Research Coordinator in June 2022 after graduating from the College of the Holy Cross with a B.A. in Chemistry. David works with Dr. Connor Johnson on a longitudinal study investigating the effect of supportive oncology care at home, with the goal of improving the lives of patients undergoing chemotherapy and chemoradiation. After his time with CORE, he hopes to pursue a career in medicine.

Astha Tripathi

Astha Tripathi joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2023. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a minor in Hispanic Studies. She currently works with Dr. Tejaswini More Dhawale on EPIPHANY to examine unmet needs and attitudes towards the integration of early palliative care with standard oncology care in patients with newly diagnosed aggressive hematologic malignancies. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine after her time with CORE.

Alex Tse

Alex Tse joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June of 2023 after graduating from Wellesley College with a B.A. in Chemistry and a minor in Psychology. Alex currently works with Dr. Lara Traeger on the Transitions study, which aims to support people who are transitioning from active lung cancer treatment to surveillance. Alex also works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri on the Bone Marrow Transplant Survivorship Program which assesses the physical and emotional needs of bone marrow transplant survivors. Alex plans to pursue a career in medicine where her time at CORE will inform her approach towards patient care.

Braelyn Wekwerth

Braelyn Wekwerth joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2023 after graduating from Boston College with a B.S. in Neuroscience. Within CORE, Braelyn works with Dr. Kelly Irwin and her team on a pilot study assessing the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual cancer and mental health tumor board model at Danvers/North Shore (ADAPT). This study was adapted from the BRIDGE trial, which assessed the impact of proactive psychiatry consultation and case management for patients with serious mental illness and a recent cancer diagnosis on cancer care and patient/caregiver reported outcomes. Braelyn is thrilled to be part of such an amazing, interdisciplinary team, and she is excited to contribute her skills and passion to this important work. After her time at CORE, she plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Jessica Whitman

Jessica Whitman joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in July 2023. She earned a B.S. in Biology and Community Health from Tufts University. Jessica works with Dr. Deb Forst on various studies including NeuroPathways, an information and support intervention for patients with recently diagnosed brain tumors. She also works with Dr. Lara Traeger on the Transitions study, a support intervention for patients with lung cancer transitioning off active treatment. She is very excited to be a part of such an amazing organization and plans to pursue a career in medicine and public health after her time in CORE.

Ally Wood

Ally Wood joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2023. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in May 2023 with a B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Neuroscience. Ally works with Dr. Ashley Nelson on the CBT-FAST study which focuses on cognitive-behavioral therapy as a treatment for chronic fatigue in stem cell transplant survivors. She also works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri on the PARADIGM-AML clinical trial which assesses the efficacy of intensive versus less-intensive chemotherapy in patients with leukemia. After her time at CORE, Ally hopes to pursue a career in medicine.

Nikka Yamin

Nikka Yamin joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June of 2022. She graduated from Boston University with a BA in Biology with a Specialization in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, and Genetics. She works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri on OPTIMIZE, a pilot study aiming to evaluate a Hospital-at-Home intervention for patients with blood cancers at the end of their lives. After her time at CORE, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine.

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